almost done the month!

i've seriously spent the last 3 days thinking about writing but not ever having the time to do it. tuesday and wednesday evenings were spent at the old store patching and sanding. went back there today and did a bit more but perry is on call tonight so becca is there by herself right now- sorry becca. tomorrow is another busy day. ryan has pre-school, i've go to run around and get things for saturday evening and we have the first day of our buying show...already buying for next fall/winter! i'm yawning as i type this!

ok, i can't believe how small our first "baby" really was. when becca and i first found the location (in 2005), we never dreamt we would be expanding in 3 years. it NEVER crossed our minds. i walk back in to the space and i can't believe we crammed everything in there...sorry! i hope you are enjoying our new location as much as we are!

aside from that, i am just going to try and make it through the weekend and after monday, things should be slowing down. we've decided that march is going to be the month for organizing our staff room (we promise!) and our office.

have a great night!
j

a busy week ahead

ok, so the expo is done! that was a busy weekend for us. we had our pictures taken at women entrepreneurs today and layla had her first full day at daycare. the day just flew by for me. there is so much to be done. i left becca in the middle of trying to organize our office. our husbands are at the old store right now taking down our wall system and then we're back there tomorrow night to clean and patch holes so we can turn the keys over at the end of the month. work in the evenings this week, trade show on the weekend followed by a few cocktails saturday evening, day at C95 monday and a staff meeting that night...sorry about the "play by play", but it helps me organize my thoughts! can't wait for the next week to be over anyway!

i'm going try and relax for a bit...i am sure with paper and pen in hand as i make my "to do" lists!

have a great night,
j

more press...and happy anniversary!

becca sent me the link to her segment on Living Saskatchewan. apparently it aired about 2 weeks ago. we missed it with all that was going on with the big move. i'm going to try and paste the link here so you can view!

http://www.cbc.ca/livingsaskatchewan/player.page?maven_playerId=livingsaskatchewan&maven_referralParentPlaylistId=b0c793b07609ce08a8a12a7a71e74d147e19ec24&maven_referralPlaylistId=5915bae506e5102400f99bb4c1c701c206eb5068&maven_referralObject=3450725&maven_referrer=staf

immunizations today for layla...not looking forward to it...

set up for the family expo today and then we'll be there for the weekend. one more thing to check off our list! can't wait until this crazy busy month ends!

oh ya...and happy 3rd anniversary becca! it's been 3 (amazing!) years since we opened cravings. i can't believe how fast the time has flown by!!

have a great day!

j

global tv

did you happen to catch global news today? i caught part 3 of 3 on saskatoon's baby boom...coincidentally the part on our store aired tonight...pvr'd it for becca. always strange to see yourself on camera...i think it turned out quite well though! will have to see if we can get parts 1 and 2 as well.

was at the store today and got lots accomplished. the time just flew by until i had to pick layla up from daycare. i guess she is adjusting well and isn't making strange anymore. we should be working it up to full days soon! monday will be a long day for her as i won't be able to pick her up until late afternoon- we have a "photo shoot" at women entrepreneurs. should be fun (as long as i keep my eyes open!).

asde from that, i made out well at sew & home yesterday...although perry doesn't know that yet! they have 20% off special orders so i got 2 benches for in front of our fireplace. perry is picking up our new desk on friday as well so things are rolling along in the house again. can't believe we've been in for almost 7 months and i'm so far away from being done. i'm actually taking our landscape plans to get a quote tomorrow. that's going to be a huge expense so i figure i should get the furniture now before perry really puts a freeze on my spending!

anyway, off to enjoy a movie before i head to bed.

j

nice change

felt a bit like a fish out of water yesterday working on the sales floor. it has been quite some time since i've been the one selling strollers and car seats. because each stroller is so different, you have to review them frequently to remember all the features, how it folds, etc. well, it had to come back to me quickly yesterday as i didn't have the other sales gals to help me out! guess i didn't do too badly as i did manage to sell a few pieces! it got so busy in the store that i was literally running to try and help everyone!

i have to admit that my feet were killing me afterwards! i have never been one for being practical so i was wearing my heels of course! forgot what it's like to stand (run around) for hours at a time! i did have a great time though...so nice to get out from behind the paper!

doing a bit of running around today and then back to work tonight. i heard one of my fav stores (sew & home) is having a huge sale so i'm going to check it out! i forewarned perry so there should be no surprises!

oh, also wanted to mention that our spring & summer maternity clothing is arriving! check out ripe maternity to see their 2009 line! we are also getting great pieces from olian, hatch, mame, jules & jim and our ever popular denim from maternal america has been re-stocked!

www.ripe.com.au

have a great day!
j

day at the store

bit of a role reversal this morning. perry is in bed and i'm up with the girls. i guess it might be a bit different as he was on call last night! i'm working at the store this afternoon so it' ll be a quick shift switch, he'll get up and take the kids and i'll head to work. we do quite a bit of this because i am working most nights...change is coming as layla soon spends a full day at daycare.

anyway, i am looking forward to actually working on the sales floor today and having some human contact! i'm definitely more of a "people person" than a "computer person" so it should be fun for a change! not sure what to expect today...long weekends can go either way.

off to go and watch smurfs and alvin & the chipmunks, the "retro cartoons" as they call them...boy do i feel old!

hope to see you at the store today!

j

sleeping in

i was certainly spoiled this morning. my first morning not getting up to feed layla and i got to sleep in until 10:30! i love sleeping in! perry & ryan went grocery shopping while layla and i slept and he brought home breakfast! what did i do to deserve this? a little whining perhaps? hee, hee! perry also cooked me dinner last night...his first time cooking whole lobster...it was fantastic! we enjoyed a meal after the kids went to bed. we haven't done that is a VERY long time. i actually can't even remember the last time.

took the girls to the store yesterday and we had another great day! it's funny, because the space is so much bigger it doesn't seem like there are as many people in...although there were for sure more than our usual saturdays at the old space. everything is so spread out- something that won't take long to get used to! now if only becca and i could get our office organized. i don't do well working amidst a mess so cleaning and organizing it will be a priority for me.

not much we have to do today which is always nice. perry & ryan have a play date this afternoon so i'm almost tempted to stay in my pyjamas and go back to bed during layla's afternoon nap! we'll see how that goes over...i might be pushing my luck!

have a great day!
j

happy valentine's day!

i went to bed at 7pm last night. i woke up for an hour at 9:30 and went back to bed until 7am...and i'm still tired...is that possible? i woke up this morning to a dozen beautiful red roses and one for the girls! perry told me last night that he is in charge of dinner tonight...i think he's planning to cook a whole lobster...not something i am interested in doing! not sure what's gotten in to him, but i'll take all i can get!

perry is working all day today so it's just me and the girls again. we really need to find something to do. ryan gets so restless at home. we'll likely head to the store! ha, i just can't stay away! if this past week is any indication, i think today is going to be a busy one! i am sure there are lots of people who want to take advantage of the last day of our sale, particularly the strollers and car seats (that never go on sale!).

ryan is begging to go on webkinz so i'm gonna run.

have a great long weekend! if you need something to do on monday, we're open from 12-4!

j

pictures as promised!

a little late, but here they are!

j

hit a wall

was so thrilled to hear that we had another amazing day at the store yesterday! i was in for an hour and saw 2 people taking advantage of our sale and were walking away with strollers...that's great! sounds like today is busy as well...can't seem to get becca away from the sales floor.

i wanted to go in today, but i think i've finally hit the wall. layla is super sick too. she can't seem to shake this cold and she is so congested that she ends up puking after she eats. i feel so horrible today too- i am sure i'm going to get sick again. the sleepless nights and the stress/excitement over the opening has definitely caught up with me. i took ryan to daycare and layla and i came home to nap (too bad she only slept for an hour...so not like her). it's already noon and i just had breakfast and my first cup of coffee. i just can't bring myself to leave the house today, but i am going in for the evening/night shift. i am looking forward to working days again...kids during the day and working at night is wearing on me. i told perry last night that i would like just 1 day off without kids, without anything. ha, maybe in a few years!

anyway, i am planning to post pics of our new store today...i just need to get on the other computer to do it. i promise they are coming! i have to say i am a horrible photographer so i would suggest coming in to see the store for yourself!

j

we're open!

what an amazing opening day! it was beyond our expectations! it took everyone awhile to get oriented with the new space, but it already feels like "home". we were so happy to hear from everyone that it still feels like cravings, but a new & improved (and much roomier) space! will post pictures soon.

we have a bunch of great new products...here are 2 of them for you to check out!

http://www.maclarenbaby.com/

http://www.babybjorn.com/

with every purchase this week, enter your name to win a peg perego SKATE stroller- courtesy of peg perego and cravings!

enjoying a day in my pyjamas with my girls today!

j

we're done!!!

hello!

writing from our new store right now! we're done setting up, cleaning & decorating! thank you so much to our amazing staff and family/friends who helped us achieve this big move in 2 1/2 days! i can't wait for everyone to see it!

we have some amazing in-store specials this week so come in & check it out!

see you soon,
j

sneak peek

morning,

writing real quick before i head off to pack up our office and move it to our new space! was at the store for 7 hours last night...obviously out of shape because my back was killing me from lifting boxes. got home super late, but my babes slept in this morning until 7:45! layla went to bed at 6:20 last night! i went back to bed for an hour or so and now i am ready to go until i drop!!

thought i'd give you a sneak peek at our new space...just to pique your interest a bit ( i obviously love our lighting!).

j

marathon begins

another super busy day at the store yesterday and i've been told it's really busy today too. from the sounds of it, the nicer weather is getting people in the mood for stroller shopping again! whatever the case, we are definitely happy to be moving less inventory over the weekend!

so, i woke up feeling like crap this morning. this cold is rearing it's ugly head. i was "helper parent" at ryan's preschool this morning as well. i'm in some desperate need of some down time! as soon as perry gets home from work today, i will head to the store and that will likely be the last time the kids see me until tuesday! ok, it hopefully won't be that extreme, but i don't plan on being home much over the next few days. the end is near...it's just going to be a LONG few days!

having said that, i might not have a chance to write over the next little while. can't wait to see everyone next week at our new (and improved!) cravings!!!

j

count down

well yesterday was one crazy day at the store! great to see so many people taking advantage of our sale...means less for us to have to move on the weekend! it was also a very productive day for the new space as we moved a tonne of inventory over and lindsay was hard at work last night organizing our backroom and she even started putting some of the new inventory on the sales floor! perry and steven (becca's hubby) were there last night finishing a few things up and nicole's hubby should be finishing up his list tonight or tomorrow...we're definitely on the count down now...5 days until our grand opening! it'll be non-stop work until we open tuesday.

i have to run ryan to daycare this morning and layla is staying with me. poor little one has a really bad cold...cough and everything. just feel so bad for her. she's quite cranky so we'll see how she manages this morning while i do some voicing for C95 this morning! oh, i forgot to mention what the excitement was on monday....global news came by our current store, our new location and interviewed becca and i and some of our customers. the piece is supposed to air early next week so watch for it!

anyway, better get ready for the day so i make the voicing at 10:30!

j

coming together

good morning

i think i drove becca crazy yesterday...i must have called her 1000 times! perry went to the space last night to do work so i stayed home with the kids. i was just itching to get there...feeling so unproductive. at least he has a short day of work today so i can get some paperwork done and some organizing accomplished. we are now in the process of moving inventory over and lindsay (one of our inventory gals) is organizing our system for the back room. shelving is being hung and display fixtures assembled. the top of our cash wrap should be installed thursday, our store front sign is being made, we should receive all the parts to our new wall system on friday (keep my fingers crossed!)...everything has to be ready friday night so we can start moving saturday after we close. we've got a good (and very hard working) crew so i am optimistic that things will go smoothly!

i am sure becca and i are going to crash after the weekend...i can already feel the start of a cold coming on...it better hold off...no time for colds right now!

have a good one
j

SALE!

wednesday feb 4- saturday feb 7

ALL BABY & TODDLER CLOTHING 30% OFF
buy 1, get 1 free sleepers
FALL & WINTER BABY SHOES 30% OFF
fall & winter maternity clothing 40% OFF
$15 MATERNITY CLOTHING RACK
and more!

for every $100 you spend at cravings maternity & baby this week, receive a $10 MONEY CARD to be used at our NEW LOCATION!!

opening february10th!!!

good morning!

it's official- we are opening our new store location on february 10th!! had a staff meeting, furniture building, decorating event last night. got home REALLY late and now i feel nauseous i'm so tired! we did get so much accomplished though and i am going to send perry back there tonight to finish off a few things. we're going to start moving extra inventory from our current location over to the new space and then we have to sit tight and wait for the weekend! we are going to be closed on monday for the move and will re-open tuesday at our new location! if you haven't already, sign up to receive our emails and watch for our announcement about in-store promos.

nothing else really going on as all our attention and energy is focused on this big move. we hope to see you all next week!

j

lots going on

layla got her first cold yesterday. i feel so bad for her. not at all surprising considering perry & ryan both have colds. i was, however, surprised that she didn't wake up last night- she actually ended up sleeping in this morning. ryan slept in a bit too and was anxious to get perry out of bed (no sleeping in for him!). an early morning start for them as they left about 8:15 to go to our new space and then to go grocery shopping.

perry was at the new store for 5 hours last night working on various things and i put in another 5 hours of work yesterday. i think he'll be able to get most of the things on his list completed this morning and i'll head to the new space this afternoon. ah, the end is near! february is such a crazy busy month for us as we have our grand opening (i think we're about ready to announce the date, but i better check with becca first before i say anything!), a trade show and the family expo. too much for my liking!

aside from going to the store, today is going to be a lazy one. i did manage to wash my hair last night which was a bonus! i also managed to squeeze in a glass of wine and i enjoyed a few hours of 24 that i pvr'd (not sure if i'm using the right lingo?)...a nice break...

off to get ready for the day!

j